US2005245949A1PendingUtilityA1

Thermokeratoplasty system with a guided probe tip

41
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Apr 28, 2004Filed: Apr 28, 2004Published: Nov 3, 2005
Est. expiryApr 28, 2024(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Paul GothDorin PanescuSteve S. Khalaj
A61F 9/013A61F 9/0136
41
PatentIndex Score
0
Cited by
0
References
0
Claims

Abstract

A template that is used with a probe to perform a medical procedure on a cornea. One embodiment of the template includes one or more openings that are used to align the probe with locations of the cornea that are to be denatured with energy transferred by the probe. By way of example, the openings may be located at 6, 7 and 8 millimeters about the center of the cornea. The denatured spots may collectively decrease the radius of curvature of the cornea. The template may have a bottom surface that conforms to the shape of the cornea. The template may have a centering feature that is used to center the template on the cornea and a vacuum channel that maintains the position of the template. The template openings may have stop features that limit a penetration depth of the probe.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . An apparatus that is used with a probe in a medical procedure on a cornea with a radial shape, comprising: 
 a template with a bottom surface that conforms to the radial shape of the cornea and an openings that guides the probe into a spot on the cornea.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said bottom surface has a compound curvature.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said template has a plurality of openings.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said openings are arranged in a circular pattern.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said openings are arranged in a plurality of circular patterns having diameters at 6, 7 and 8 millimeters.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising a plurality of probes that are coupled to said template and extend though said openings.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said template includes a vacuum channel.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said template includes a sealing ring.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said template includes a protrusion that extends into the cornea.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said template includes an alignment feature.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said alignment feature includes a reticle within a center opening.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the probe is coupled to said template and extends through said opening of said template.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a spring coupled to the probe and said template.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising an actuator coupled to the probe.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said template includes a stop that limits a penetration depth of the probe.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a lid speculum coupled to said template.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a console that provides radio frequency power to the probe.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said template includes a handle.  
   
   
       19 . An apparatus that is used with a probe in a medical procedure on a cornea, comprising: 
 a template with a vacuum channel and an opening that is used to align the probe with a spot on the cornea.    
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein said template has a bottom surface with a compound curvature.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein said template has a plurality of openings.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein said openings are arranged in a circular pattern.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein said openings are arranged in a plurality of circular patterns having diameters at 6, 7 and 8 millimeters.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , further comprising a plurality of probes that are coupled to said template and extend though said openings.  
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein said template includes a sealing ring.  
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein said template has a protrusion that extends into the cornea.  
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein said template includes an alignment feature.  
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein said alignment feature includes a reticle within a center opening.  
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein said template includes a handle.  
   
   
       30 . An apparatus that is used with a probe in a medical procedure on a cornea, comprising: 
 a template with a protrusion that maintains a position of said template on the cornea and an opening that is used to align the probe with a spot on the cornea.    
   
   
       31 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein template has a bottom surface with a compound curvature.  
   
   
       32 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein said template has a plurality of openings.  
   
   
       33 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein said openings are arranged in a circular pattern.  
   
   
       34 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein said openings are arranged in a plurality of circular patterns having diameters at 6, 7 and 8 millimeters.  
   
   
       35 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , further comprising a plurality of probes that are coupled to said template and extend though said openings.  
   
   
       36 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein said template includes a sealing ring.  
   
   
       37 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein said template includes an alignment feature.  
   
   
       38 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein said alignment feature includes a reticle within a center opening.  
   
   
       39 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein said template includes a handle.  
   
   
       40 . An apparatus that is used with a probe in a medical procedure on a cornea, comprising: 
 a template with means for maintaining a position of said template on the cornea and an opening that is used to align the probe with a spot on the cornea.    
   
   
       41 . The apparatus of  claim 40 , wherein said means includes a vacuum channel.  
   
   
       42 . The apparatus of  claim 40 , wherein said means includes a protusion.  
   
   
       43 . The apparatus of  claim 40 , wherein template has a bottom surface with a compound curvature.  
   
   
       44 . The apparatus of  claim 40 , wherein said template has a plurality of openings.  
   
   
       45 . The apparatus of  claim 44 , wherein said openings are arranged in a circular pattern.  
   
   
       46 . The apparatus of  claim 44 , wherein said openings are arranged in a plurality of circular patterns having diameters at 6, 7 and 8 millimeters.  
   
   
       47 . The apparatus of  claim 44 , further comprising a plurality of probes that are coupled to said template and extend though said openings.  
   
   
       48 . The apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein said template includes a sealing ring.  
   
   
       49 . The apparatus of  claim 40 , wherein said template includes alignment means for aligning said template onto the cornea.  
   
   
       50 . The apparatus of  claim 49 , wherein said alignment means includes a reticle within a center opening.  
   
   
       51 . The apparatus of  claim 40 , wherein said template includes a handle.  
   
   
       52 . An apparatus that is used with a probe in a medical procedure on a cornea, comprising: 
 a template with a centering feature and an opening that is used to align the probe with a spot on the cornea.    
   
   
       53 . The apparatus of  claim 52 , wherein said template has a bottom surface with a compound curvature.  
   
   
       54 . The apparatus of  claim 52 , wherein said template has a plurality of openings.  
   
   
       55 . The apparatus of  claim 54 , wherein said openings are arranged in a circular pattern.  
   
   
       56 . The apparatus of  claim 54 , wherein said openings are arranged in a plurality of circular patterns having diameters at 6, 7 and 8 millimeters.  
   
   
       57 . The apparatus of  claim 54 , further comprising a plurality of probes that are coupled to said template and extend though said openings.  
   
   
       58 . The apparatus of  claim 52 , wherein said template includes a sealing ring.  
   
   
       59 . The apparatus of  claim 52 , wherein said template has a protrusion that extends into the cornea.  
   
   
       60 . The apparatus of  claim 52 , wherein said alignment feature includes a reticle within a center opening.  
   
   
       61 . The apparatus of  claim 52 , wherein said template includes a handle.  
   
   
       62 . An apparatus that is used with a probe in a medical procedure on a cornea, comprising: 
 a template with an opening that is used to align the probe with a spot on the cornea and alignment means for aligning said template with the cornea.    
   
   
       63 . The apparatus of  claim 62 , wherein said template has a bottom surface with a compound curvature.  
   
   
       64 . The apparatus of  claim 62 , wherein said template has a plurality of openings.  
   
   
       65 . The apparatus of  claim 64 , wherein said openings are arranged in a circular pattern.  
   
   
       66 . The apparatus of  claim 64 , wherein said openings are arranged in a plurality of circular patterns having diameters at 6, 7 and 8 millimeters.  
   
   
       67 . The apparatus of  claim 64 , further comprising a plurality of probes that are coupled to said template and extend though said openings.  
   
   
       68 . The apparatus of  claim 62 , wherein said template includes a sealing ring.  
   
   
       69 . The apparatus of  claim 62 , wherein said template has a protrusion that extends into the cornea.  
   
   
       70 . The apparatus of  claim 62 , wherein said alignment means includes a reticle within a center opening.  
   
   
       71 . The apparatus of  claim 62 , wherein said template includes a handle.  
   
   
       72 . A method for performing a medical procedure on a cornea, comprising: 
 aligning a template onto a cornea;    maintaining a position of the template on the cornea;    pushing a probe through an opening of the template into contact with the cornea; and,    delivering an energy to the cornea through the probe to denature corneal tissue.    
   
   
       73 . The method of  claim 72 , wherein the template is aligned through a center opening.  
   
   
       74 . The method of  claim 72 , wherein a portion of the probe is inserted into the cornea.  
   
   
       75 . The method of  claim 72 , wherein a spring pulls the probe out of contact with the cornea.  
   
   
       76 . The method of  claim 72 , wherein a spring pushes the probe in contact with the cornea.  
   
   
       77 . The method of  claim 72 , wherein the probe is pushed into the cornea until engaging a stop.  
   
   
       78 . The method of  claim 72 , wherein the position of the template is maintained with a vacuum pressure.  
   
   
       79 . The method of  claim 72 , wherein the vacuum pressure tightens the cornea.  
   
   
       80 . The method of  claim 72 , wherein the position of the template is maintained with a protrusion.  
   
   
       81 . The method of  claim 72 , wherein the template is aligned through a reticle.  
   
   
       82 . An apparatus that is used to perform a medical procedure on a cornea, comprising: 
 a probe; and,    an actuator that is coupled to said probe.    
   
   
       83 . The apparatus of  claim 82 , wherein said actuator includes an action spring.  
   
   
       84 . The apparatus of  claim 82 , further comprising a return spring coupled to said probe.  
   
   
       85 . The apparatus of  claim 82 , wherein said actuator includes an electromagnetic device.  
   
   
       86 . The apparatus of  claim 82 , wherein said actuator includes a pneumatic device.  
   
   
       87 . The apparatus of  claim 82 , wherein said actuator includes a piezoelectric device.  
   
   
       88 . An apparatus that is used to perform a medical procedure on a cornea, comprising: 
 a probe; and,    actuator means for moving said probe toward the cornea.    
   
   
       89 . The apparatus of  claim 88 , wherein said actuator means includes an action spring.  
   
   
       90 . The apparatus of  claim 88 , where said actuator means moves said probe out of contact with the cornea.  
   
   
       91 . The apparatus of  claim 90 , further comprising a return spring coupled to said probe.  
   
   
       92 . The apparatus of  claim 88 , wherein said actuator means includes an electromagnetic device.  
   
   
       93 . The apparatus of  claim 88 , wherein said actuator means includes a pneumatic device.  
   
   
       94 . The apparatus of  claim 88 , wherein said actuator means includes a piezoelectric device.  
   
   
       95 . A method for performing a medical procedure on a cornea, comprising: 
 actuating an actuator to push a probe into contact with the cornea; and,    delivering an energy to the cornea through the probe to denature corneal tissue.    
   
   
       96 . The method of  claim 95 , wherein a portion of the probe is inserted into the cornea.  
   
   
       97 . The method of  claim 95 , wherein a spring pulls the probe out of contact with the cornea.  
   
   
       98 . The method of  claim 95 , wherein the probe is pushed into the cornea until engaging a stop.

Join the waitlist — get patent alerts

Track US2005245949A1 — get alerts on status changes and closely related new filings.

We store only your email — no account needed. See our privacy policy.